Dishwashing machine



DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed July 16, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l I m 187%. Edgar 6 Stoddard- DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed July 16, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 25, 1936. s, sT 2,032,156

DI SHWASHING MACHINE Filed July 16, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 .1 7 1173% 1Z4 525 a 5. Stoddard- By WWW Feb. 25, 1936. E. s. STODDARD 2,032,155

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Int/6%": 1 .EZja \5- Stoddard Patented Feb. 25, 1936 PATENT OFFICE DISHWASHING MACHINE Edgar s. Stoddard, Berwyn, 111., assignor to The Conover Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 16, 1928, Serial No. 293,197

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in dish washing machines, and it more particularly relates to improved rack arrangements for holding the dishes and similar objects to be washed in the interior of the machine.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved rack arrangement which is adapted to position all the dishes, saucers, cups, glasses, silverware; etc. in the interior of the washing chamber so as to obtain an economical utilization of the space within such washing chamber.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rack arrangement which is adapted to retain all the articles to be cleansed and rinsed in positions such that all surfaces thereof will be effectively exposed to the cleansing and rinsing liquids when the machine is inoperation.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved rack arrangement which is selfcleansing and which will be cleansed and rinsed at the same time as the articles which it contains. A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved rack arrangement for dish washing machines of the spray projection type.

Other objects will appear during the course of the following specification.

Although this invention is broadly directed to improvements in connection with all dish washing machines, it is especially directed to improvements to be used in connection with the centrifugal spray projector-type of washing machines, which are more fully described and shown in the copending application, Serial Number 353,841 filed January 24, 1920 now Patent 1,679,465, granted August 7-, 1928. I I The functioning of this type of machine depends upon the operation of a small unencased screw propeller-like impeller, with curved blades,

which impeller rotates at a high velocity of the order of 1,000 to 2,000 R. P. M. in the lower part of the tank of the machine. Only the lower part of this impeller is immersed in the shallow liquid pool in the lower part of the tank. ,The shallow liquid' pool in the lower part of the machine is maintained in relatively quiescent condition during the operation of the machine. As it turns,

' the impeller elevates the liquid from its lower screw propeller portions to its upper concaVo-' projectors which throw the cleansing liquid at a effective for cleansing purposes.

tremendous velocity directly upon, or into, the

volume of cleansing liquid is very small, and as a result a very effective cleansing is obtained with a minimum and most eflicient use of soap and water. The projected mass of liquid at the same time keeps the interior of the tank of the machine clean and causes all the food particles and other solid matter to collect at the bottom of the casing from whence they can be readily removed. In the operation of this unencased impeller, it is important that only the lower portion of the impeller be immersed in water since if the impeller be totally immersed, it will not result in an efiicient cleansing action. In view of the fact that the dishes and other objects are kept out of contact with the body of liquid contained in the bottom of the tank, and the cleansing is solely due to contact with the projected mass of liquid, it is important that the proper operating conditions be maintained for producing such a cleansing action.

The following drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention as applied'to the centrifugal spray projector-type of dishwashing machines, to which the invention is by no means restricted.

Figure 1 represents aside sectional view of the washing machine and the racks in position;

Figures 2, 3, 9 and 10 represent additional showings of the lower rack structures; and

Figures l, 5, 6, 7 and 8 represent additional showings of the upper rack structures.

In Figurel the washing machine is composed of a vertical cylindrical tank H which is provided with a cover 12 and three symmetrically positioned legs l3 which ride upon the rollers it so that the washing machine can be readily moved from place to place. The tank is provided with two strengthening ribs l5 and it the former being adjacent to the top and the latter adjacent to the bottom thereof, and it is also provided with a centrally draining bottom ii. To the lowest portion ot'the centrally draining bottom is attached a well chamber 20 in the lowest compartment 2! of which is positioned a centrifugal pump 22. The cleansing and rinsing liquids are adapted to be admitted to the tank by the adjustable swinging conduit 25. In the lowest central portion of the tank is positioned the impeller 35 which is driven by the motor 38. The motor is in part suspended from the tank by means of the well casting 20 and is in part supported from the legs by means of the spider 31. The lid [2 is provided with a vent 40 and with a support rod 4| and guide rods 42 which are adapted to support the lid when in inverted horizontal position. v

The lower rack structure is shown in section in position in the machine upon Figure i. It is shown in top view removed from the machine in Figure 3 with the silverware rack in position. Figure 2 is a side view of the lower rack with the silverware holder removed. Figure 9 is a side view of the silverware holder removed from the lower rack. The lower rack is provided with three diiferent sized radial dish-holder portions, sections of the smallestand medium sine being shown in Figure 1 and ef the largest size in Figure 10. The lower rack is adapted to hold the larger plates and dishes, and also knives, forks and spoons, during the cleansing operation. It is preferably supported on the bottom of the tank by four symmetrically positioned legs 45, but it also can be supported on an impeller guard member (not shown). It will be noted that the lower iegs 45 are so positioned that they will rest upon the lower dished conical bottom of the tank I lnear the jointure of the bottom with the walls of the tank. The legs 45 also are adapted to support the rack when it is outside the tank so as to prevent any of the downwardly projecting portions of the dishes from being chipped and otherwise marred.

The lower rack contains a special perforated sheet metal holder 46 (see Figures 1', 3 and 9) which is provided with the handles 41. The holder 46 is so constructed and is so positioned that the knives, forks and spoons contained therein will receive the full effect of the cleansing spray. It will be noted that the heider .is arcuate in shape and that its inner wali is lower than its outer wall. It is adapted to fit in the outer circle of the lower rack. The perferated sheet metal holder as shown in the present embodiment of the invention is divided into several compartments, in the present embodiment four in number, by the walls 48. These compartments are of such width as to maintain the knives, forks, spoons and similar objects in vertical position and prevent them from lying over-on their sides. The outside wall 48 of the sheet metal holder is higher than the inside wall 58. This also assists in holding the knives, forks, spoons, etc. in proper position. The top edges of the walls are rolled or bent over to make a. neat The angular location of the silverware container is determine-d by the wire 53 on the side in the direction of retation. It is located radially by the wires 68 and 68 (see Figures 1, 2 and 3). The holder 46 is supported in the U-bent wires 5| the bottoms of which are provided with offset portions 52 (see Figures 1 and 2). These ofiset portions 52 are welded or soldered to the top of the intermediate circular wire 6|.

A series of upstanding wire dish holders are arranged in the lower rack. These are adapted to position and retain the large size dishes and plates. The smaller vessels are positioned in the u per rack structure which will be subsequently described. One set at these wire holders extends between the inner ring 65 and the intermediate ring 66 (see Figures 1, 2, 3 and 10). The holders between the rings 65 and 66 comprise upstanding wires H and I2 spaced about the central portion or the rack and include arcuate separator strips 68 arranged in an approximately horizontal position ior spacing and supporting the fiat dishes on edge with their faces'substantially vertical and tangent to the mean circumi'erence of the water impeller 35 in the direction of its rotation. The wire holders are so formed as to positien the dishes in such a manner that -tion as rests for the edges of the dishes.

the tangential line on which they are set will intersect the tangentially projected water. The projected water, which is in the form of a spray during the operation (if the machine, may be-considered as being initiated from the middle-of the spoon-shaped projects-r at the top of the impeller. The holders of the other set extend between the intermediate concentric wire ring 68 and the outer concentricwire ring 68. These holders are adapted to support the largest dishes on edge adjacent to the wall of the washing chamber and transverse to a radius.

The inner holders between the rings 65 and 66 are arranged in three groups adapted to hold different sized plates or dishes. The group extending from the radial wire 58 to the radial wire 81 is adapted to hold the plates of large diameter, the group extending from the radial wire 81 to the radial wire 88 is adapted to hold the plates or dishes of medium diameter and the group extending from the wire 88 to the wire 58 is adapted to hold the dishes of'smail diameter.

The intermediate dish-supporting ringsegments 88, 83, 18, 8|, 82, and rings 66 and 6|, and the outer dish-supporting ring 61 and ring 68 are concentric with the center 48 of the lower rack which also coincides with the centerot the machine. The concentric ring segment 6| and ring 61 are adjacent to the bottom of the rack and on substantially the same level. The ring 66 is slightly above and to the inside of the rin segment 6|. The ring 68 is above, and to the outside of, the ring 61 and is the terminating outer ring of the rack. The concentric ring 66 and ring segments 18, 82 and 83, and 8| and 88 func- The pair'66 and I0 are the lowest, the pair 82 and 83 are higher than, and at the same radial distance as, the pair 66 and i8, respectively, and the pair 8| and are the highest and at shorter radial distances than the other pairs. The concentric wire ring extends through the entire rack, the ring segment 18 extends through only the section 53-81 for the large dishes, the ring segments 82 and 83 through only the section 81-88 for the intermediate dishes and the ring segments 8| and 88 through only the section 88-58 for the small dishes. The innermost ring 55 is semewhat oif center or eccentric to the ring 66 and the outer rings and ring segments. This results in the variation of the length of the wire holders between the rings 65and 66 dependent upon their particular angular position in the lewer rack.

The largest dishes are adapted to be positioned in the sections 68-81 adjacent to wire 53 in the direction of rotation of the impeller. In this section 58-81' (see Figures 3 and 10), the concentric ring 66 and ring segment 18 form rests for the dishes, the outer wire 66 being located above the inner wire 18 so as to cause the plates to roll slightly toward the central ring as they are placed therein. The vertical heights of the arcuate wires 68 are such that the plates can be readily loaded and unloaded by taking hold of them above the wires. Thearcuate wires 69 are shaped on top so as to conform to the curvature of the dishes slightly so that there will be no presslne to cause the edges of the dishes to chip.

Adjacent to the section for large dishes, in the direction of impeller rotation, is the section 87-88 adapted to hold dishes of'intennediate diameters. This section diflers from the section fer large dishes by having the concentrie ring segments 82 and 88 slightly higher than the cor- 75 86 and the vertical wires The arcuate wires 68, 86 and 13,

2,082,156 responding'ring 66 and ring segment 18, although at the same radial distance. The arcuate wires 84 and 85 serve to support and retain the dishes in the desired positions. The arcuate wires 86 are at the same height as, but are shorter than, the curved portions 68 due to the eccentricity of the central ring 65.

In the section adapted to hold the smallest dishes or plates radially in front of the space provided for the silver rack (see Figures 1 and 3) are positioned a number of short arcuate wires 13 similar to the wires 69 and 86 with vertical supporting wires 14 and 15 attached to the concentric ring portions 88 and 8| which are at about the same. height. The wire 68 and the short wires 62 serve to prevent the smaller dishes from being rolled out of this section into the space radially adjacent to the silverware holder and vfalling into the liquid pool in the bottom of tank.

The concentric ring sections 18, 83 and 88 form the lower inner support of the plates placed in the wire frames around the impeller. The pockets areall approximately oi. such size that the tops of the plates of gradated sizes will be in the same position vertically with relation to the horizontal projecting plane of the impeller. forming the top of the pockets, are all on the same horizontal plane. The outer concentric ring 66, and ring segments 82 and 8| tend to roll the dishes into position on the wires 18, 83 and 88 respectively.

' The inner ends of the arcuate wires 68, 86 and 13 64 terminate terminate in the eccentric ring .65 (Figures 1, 3 and 10). The vertical wires 12. 84 and 15 are continuations oi the outer ends 01 the arcuate wires 69, 86 and 13. The vertical wires 12 and inthe concentric ring 66 and the wires 84 are also attached to the concentric ring segment 62 a short of attachment to the ring 66. 1|, 85 and "extend between, to, the upper arcuate wires 68, 86 and 18 and the lower inner concentric ring portions 18, 83 and 88, respectively.

. The concentric wires I8I, I83 and I84 and the radial wires I82 are positioned beneath and also centrally in front of the section 53-81 to prevent dishes i'rom falling onto the rotating impeller. The concentric wire I84 serves a similar purpose also ior the section 81-88 designed to hold dishes of intermediate size.

Another set of wire holders extends between the intermediate ring 66 and the outer ring 61 The vertical wires and are attached and ring 68. The radial U-shaped. wires 16 are attached to and below the concentric rings 6|, 66,61 and, 68 and withthese rings form the outer dish holdersoi the lower rack (see Figures 1, 3 and 10). The U-wires 16 are so angularly spaced that only a proper number of the large'dishes may be positioned around the outer portion of the lower rack. The inner lower edge of these large dishes in the outer rack will rest against either the inner vertical portions 11 of the U- wires 16 or against the concentric ring 6| and the bottom of the U-wires 16, depending upon their depth, the deeper dishes resting against the wires 11 and the shallow dishes against the wire 6|. These plates are caused to lean backward so that they will face the center if the machine and not come into contact with the smaller plates located in the central holders. The backs of these dishes will rest against the outer vertical portions 18 of the U-wires 16 and the ring 68. The lower rack is provided with two vertically extending handles 19. The lower rack is adapted to support distance above their point.

3 10 dinner plates of 9 to 10" side holders between the rings 66 and 66 and in the inside radial holders, 14 dinner plates of 9 to 10" diameter, 10 salad plates of 7-8" diameter and 10 tea saucers or bread-and-butter plates of 5-6" diameter.

The upper rack structure is shown in position machine in Figure 1 and is shown removed from the machine upon Figures 4, 5, 6, '7 and 8. It consists of two concentric sections, an inner section shown on Figures 4, 6, 7 and 8 and an outer section shown in Figures 5 and 6. The inner upper rack is supported from the outer upper rack and may consist of difierent embodiments, such as that shown in Figure 4 or that shown upon Figures 7 and 8. The embodiment shown on Figures '1 and 8 is especially designed to be utilized as a small dish holder, whereas the embodiment shown upon Figures 4 and 6 is adapted to be a deep vessel holder.

The inner upper rack shown as Figures 1, 4 and 6 consists of a series of radial and concentric wires which are welded together to form an upwardly pointing conical section. There are a series of short radial wires 98 and a series 01 longer radial wires 8|. The longer .radial wires 8| terminate at and are welded to the top of the inner- -most concentric ring 82 while the shorter radial wires are welded to and on top of the next to the inner concentric ring. 83. Several of the radial wires 98 or 9| are provided with projecting portions 84 which hook over and support the inner rack upontheinnermost ring 85 of the outer section. The radial wires 88 and 9| are also welded to intermediate concentric wire 86. The network of radial wires 88 and 8| and concentrlc wires 82, 83 and 86 form an upwardly pointing irusto-conical section which forms a bottom for the deep vessels which are supported face downward. To the edge of the upwardly pointing conical section (see Figure 4) is attached a cylindrical section formed by the upwardly turned parts of the radial wires 88 and 8| and by the concentric wires Bland 88 in which most of the wires 98 and 9| terminate. Certain of the radial wires as indicated at 89 are continued upwardly and are welded to a concentric ring I88. The upper concentric ring I88 is supported by a minimum of vertical wires 89 and at such a distance above the concentric ring 88 that vegetable and similar deep vessels can be placed between the two concentric rings 98 and I88 when they are supported by both the inner and outer sections of the upper rack. The concentric ring I88 is positioned, above the concentric ring 88 a suil'icient distance to support effectually the taller type of glass-ware adjacent to their upturned bottoms. The conical bottom formed by the welded radial wires 88 and 8| and the concentric rings 82, 93 and 96 is inclined to the horizontal at a suflicient angle to admit the cleansing streams to strike the center of inner bottoms of the upturned vessels and provide proper drainage for the water from the upturned bottoms. This angle is about 18 to 20, usually about 15 for the particular impeller shown.

The upper rack illustrated upon Figure 4 and shown in position upon Figures 1 and 6 may be replaced if desired by the rack shown upon Figures 7 and 8. The rack shown upon Figures 7 and 8 is provided with a series of tall radial downwardly faced U-bent holders II 8 to the outside of which are attached a lower set of L-bent holders II I.

The rack is provided with a conical bottom diameter, on the out-)- inner upper rack upon formed by the welded concentric wires I1I2, H6 and III, the long radial wires H3 and the short radial wires H4. The outermost concentric ring H8 'of the-rack is provided with several symmetrically positioned hook shaped portions I I5 which are adapted -to position the innermost concentric ring 95 of the outer upper rack. The vertical holders of this particular embodiment of the inner upper rack are not exactly radial but are set tangential to the mean projecting circle of the impeller. The lower ends of the U-shaped holders III! are welded and H1 and the L-shaped holders are welded to the outermost ring- I I8 and the outer legs H9 of the u-shaped wires H about one-third the distance from the ring H1 to the top of the U-bent wire H0. The short radial wires H4 extend between the rings H6 and H1 to which they are welded and they are symmetrically positioned between the long radial wires I I3. The long radial wires H3 extend between the rings H2. and H1 and are-welded to these rings and also rings H on the underside. These are also symmetrically and I32 in the radial wires I2I.

. central conical section positioned around the circumference. The combined U-bent wires H0 and L-shaped wires III provide suflicient height and width for supporting tea saucers and bread-and-butter plates of aboutv 5" diameter in a proper vertical position on the concentric rings H6 and H8. The ring H3-is higher than the ring H3 to prevent dishes from rolling out of their position during the washing operations. .The low L-shaped wires provide a short side on the supporting rack which permits easy loading and removal of small diameter dishes, such as pats of about 2 diameter without sacrificing the efliciency of rackvfor holding larger 5 plates.- These smaller dishes are supported on the ring I I1 and held in position by the concentric rings ticai supporting wires I I9 and I23 pass completely between the dishes insuring easy access to the soiled parts for the projected cleansing stream.

The outer upper rack is shown in the position in the tank in Figure 1. It is shown in vertical cross section in Figure 5 removed from the tank, and is shown in top concentric wires I23 and I30. The "outer upper. rack terminates in a downwardly-pointing conical section, the upper ring I23.- To the ring I23 are welded the small legs I24 which are symmetrically positioned so as to support the upper rack structure from the upper bead I5 of the tank II'. The upper rack is provided with two handles I25. The inner conical section of the outer upper rack extends from the innermost ring to the bends I3I in the radial wires I2I. The intermediate outwardly curved section extends between the bends I3I The outer conical section extends from the bends I32 in the radial wires I2I to the outermost ring I23. The of the outer upper rack which is formed by the concentric wires 95, I21

and I28 and the radial wires I2I is given. a slope of about 35 to 45 this embodiment of the to the concentric rings H3 H6 and H3. The principal yer-- .from marking or view upon Figure 6 with an inner upper rack such as that shown in Figure 4 side of which :is welded to from the horizontal. The

inner side of this conical'section faces the lower center of the machine. The curved 'te portion formed by means of theconcentric wires I29 and I3I| is adapted to support the sides of the cups in proper position for washing and prevents them from overturning. The terminating downwardly-pointing conical section between the bends I32 and the ring I23 is adapted to support glasses so that they will rest firmly on the lower conical section between the ring 35 and the bends I3I in a position where they will be effectually cleansed. i

The legs I24 space the outer upper rack away. from the side of the tank and permit the spray generated by the impeller to effectually cleanse the spwe between the outer ring I23 and the tank. The doubly bent radial wires I2I are symmetrically positioned on the terminating rings I23 and 95 and the intermediate rings I21, I23, I23 and I30 so that average sized tumblers will be supported in all cases by two of 'the radial wires in-the upper conical section between the bends I32 and the ring or more radial wires in'the inner conical section between the bends'I3I and the ring 35. intermediate rings I21, I23, I23 and*-I3l=" "are so positioned hat they will form a protectivemesh to prevent dishes of small dimensions of approaimately 2V diameter from falling through the interstices. The outer upper rack has a-capacity of about 16 cups or glasses. The embodimmt of the inner upper rack shown in Figure 4 has a capacity of 9 glasses or cups. The capacity of the embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8 is about 24 hread-and-butter plates or tea saucers. The overhanging hooks 34 or H5 of the inner upper racks are adapted to suspend the bottom of the inner upper rack below the inner edge of the outer upper rack, but not sumciently below to prevent the water spray projected bi the impeller 35 from effectually contacting with the articles on the outer portion of the upper rack.

I23 andwillrest upon two The rack structures may be inside from stainless. alloys or they maybe coated with glass or other enamels to prevent them from rusting and marring the dishes. They are preferably colored a sanitary appearance. p p

The rack arrangements of thepresent application constitute a modification of the rack arrangements shown and described in the copendingapplication Serial No. 271,681 filed April 21; 1928, which has matured into Patent No. 1,905,523, granted April 25, 1933, and they are especially adapted for use in large diameter washing ma-. chines, say about 29" in diameter.

What is claimed is:

i. In a rack for a dish washing machine provided with a vertical washing chamber and with a water actuating device adjacent the lower part. of said chamber, a silverware holder adapted to be placed in the lower and outer part of the washing chamber, the walls and bottom .of said silverware holder beingfformed of a mesh, the inner and outer walls being arcuate in shap said inner wall being substantially lower than the outer wall. and inwardly converging partitions connecting said inner and outer walls to form therebetween a series of compartments for receiving silverware, the distance between the partitions being small so as to prevent a. knife, fork or a spoon from lying horizontally in any compartment.

2. In aspray projecting dlshwashing machine, a silverware holder adapted to be placed in the lower and outer part of the washing chamber, the

light gray so asto give them inner ring to form walls and bottom of said silverware holder being formed of a screen with two opposite walls of concentric arcuate shape, the top edge of one of said walls being lower than the other.

3. In a rack for supporting flatware in a dishwashing machine, a plurality of groups of dish holders arranged in spaced relation about the center of said rack, said dish holders having bottom elements and upstanding inwardly extending partition elements, the bottom elements of each of said groups of dish holders being positioned as a unit at progressively greater elevations around said center than the bottom elements of the next preceding group.

4. In a rack for supporting flatware in a dishwashing machine, a plurality of groups of dish holders, said holders being formed in part by inwardly directed upstanding wire partitions arranged in spaced relation about the center of the rack, and having bottom elements, said groups of holders around the center being progressively smaller in size with their bottoms at progressively greater elevation.

5. In a rack for supporting flatware in a dishwashing machine, an inner ring, a plurality of substantially concentric outer ring segments disposed around and below the inner ring, said outer ring segments having progressively greater elevations, and wire loopsarranged in spaced relation and connecting said outer ring segments with saidinner ring to form groups of dish holding compartments.

6. In a rack for supporting flatware in a dishwashing machine, a plurality of substantially concentric outer ring segments arranged around the center of the rack at difierent elevations, an inner ring eccentric to said outer ring segments and being nearer the segment of greatest elevation, and wire loops arranged in spaced relation and connecting said outer ring segments to said groups .of dish holding compartments.

'7. In a rack for supporting flatware in a dishwashing machine, a plurality of substantially concentric outer ring segments arranged around the center of the rack at progressively greater elevations, an inner ring above and eccentric to said outer ring segments and being nearer the segment of greatest elevation, wire loops arranged in spaced relation and connecting said outer ring segments to said inner ring to form groups of dish holding compartments, inner ring segments positioned between said outer ring segments and said inner ring, and wires extending upwardly from said inner ring segments to said loops.

8. In a rack for supporting flatware in a dishwashing machine, a plurality of substantially concentric outer ring segments arranged around the center of the rack at progressively different elevations, inner ring segments corresponding to said outer ring segments, an inner ring above and eccentric to said outer ring segments and being nearer the segment of greatest elevation, wire: loops arranged in spaced relation and connecting said outer ring segments to said inner ring to form graduated groups of dish holding compartments, partition wires extending upwardly from said inner wire segments to said wire loops, an outer ring encompassing said outer, ring segments and spaced therefrom, and transverse wires extending across said space to form a dish support.

9. A rack for supporting flatware in a dishwashing machine, comprising a plurality of upstanding strips arranged in spaced relationship about the center of the rack and having separator strips extending from their upper ends toward the central portion of the rack, and strips extending transversely of said separator strips and connecting the lower portions of said upstanding strips to form rests for dishes supported on edge between the separator strips, said transversely extending strips being arranged in groups of different elevations.

10. A rack for supporting flatware in a dishwashing machine, comprising a plurality of up.- standing strips arranged in spaced relationship about the center of the rack and having separator strips extending from their upper ends toward the central portion of the rack, and arcuate strips extending transversely of said separator strips and connecting the lower portions of said upstanding strips to form rests for dishes supported on edge between the separator strips, said arcuate strips being arranged in groups of different elevations.

11. A rack for supporting flatware in a dishwashing machine, comprising a plurality of upstanding strips arranged in spaced relation about the center of the rack and having separator strips extending from their upper ends toward the central portion of the rack, a ring encompassing the upstanding strips and spaced outwardly therefrom to afford an intervening space for reception of dishes, inwardly extending strips across the bottom of said space to form rests for dishes supported between said ring and the upstanding strips, and strips extending transversely of said separator strips and connecting the lower portions of said upstanding strips-to form rests for dishes supported on edge between the separator strips, said transversely extending strips being arranged in groups of different elevations.

12. In a rack for supporting flatware in a dishwashing machine, a plurality of outer ring segments' forming a substantially circular outer rack portion, an inner ring eccentric to said outer rack portion, and wire loops arranged in spaced relation transversely to said outer rack portion and said inner ring and connecting the same to form dish holders of progressively smaller size.

13. In a rack for supporting flatware in a dishwashing machine, an outer circular rack portion, an inner circular rack portion eccentric to said outer portion and partition members arranged in spaced relation transversely to said inner and outer rack portions and connecting the same to form dish holders of progressively smaller size.

14. In a rack for supporting flatware in a dishwashing machine, an outer circular rack portion and an inner circular rack portion spaced therefrom and cooperating with said outer rack portion to form a plurality of bottom supporting elements from said circular rack portions for said flatware, a plurality of inwardly extending upstanding wire partitions arranged in spaced relation on said bottom supporting elements around the center of the rack, said bottom supporting elements being positioned at progressively greater 

